Guerrero: My Fans Want Morales, Mayweather, Ortiz

By Lem Satterfield

When newly-crowned southpaw WBA and WBO interim lightweight titlist Robert Guerrero posted the question on his facebook regarding whom he should fight next, the 28-year-old five-belt champion was surprised at the results.

"I got a lot of hits for Erik Morales and a lot of hits on Victor Ortiz. There were a lot of people who want to see me fight Victor Ortiz or Morales," said Guerrero. "Of course, there were a few people out there who said that I should fight Marcos Rene Maidana or Floyd Mayweather. There were some who said Manny Pacquiao."

But the overwhelming attention was paid to Ortiz and Morales, said Guerrero.

"There were just a lot of fans who were talking about Victor Ortiz and Erik Morales and they wanted me to get into the ring with them," said Guerrero. "So, you know, like I've said, it's about the fans and what they want and it's about putting on great fights for the people."

Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 knockouts) is coming off of an April 9, victory over Australia's hammer-fisted Michael Katsidis (27-4, 22 KOs) that earned Guerrero his fourth, and, fifth career title belts.

The win was also Guerrero's 13th consecutive win during a run that includes nine stoppages, and it was a triumph which thrust the Gilroy, Calif., native into conversations that he may be on the cusp of being considered among boxing's premiere fighters, pound-for-pound.

During a recent interview with BoxingScene.com, Golden Boy Promotions' CEO, Richard Schaefer, indicated that Guerrero would be a consideration for a bout with either the southpaw Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) or three-division titlist, Morales.

"I thought that Morales fought a good fight, and I think that people were surprised by what Ortiz was able to do to Andre Berto. But they both had successful nights and I think that they looked good in there," said Guerrero, who already has been a two-time IBF featherweight and one-time IBF super featherweight champion.

"I was a little surprised that Morales' name came up, but, you know, he did fight a good fight. I think that if he hadn't gotten an eye swelled up so quickly in the first round that he might have beaten Maidana," said Guerrero. "It was a close fight for Morales, even though he was fighting with one eye. He has some fight in him and I guess that the fans want to see me go head up with him or Ortiz."